Royal Irish regiment awarded honour
The Royal Irish Regiment is being awarded a Battle Honour by the Queen of England for its service in Iraq, it was announced today.
The Regiment will be presented with the Theatre Honour ‘Iraq 2003’ for its part in the military campaign in 2003 when the UK joined the US in invading Iraq and ousting Saddam Hussein.
Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said: “These Honours represent an historic and traditional means of recognising the immense efforts British soldiers have made bringing democracy to Iraq.
“Our soldiers and their families can be very proud of the role they have performed and the sacrifices they have made to guarantee a brighter future for the people of Iraq.
Troops from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment are currently serving in Iraq on a six month tour which is due to be completed in January 2006.
Based at Fort George near Inverness, the regiment was one of the first units to deploy at the beginning of the campaign and its re-deployment this summer marked its return to Iraq after a two-year absence.
Regimental Colonel, Colonel Mark Campbell, recently returned to the UK from visiting his men on the front line.
He said: “The award of this Honour is another extremely proud moment in the long and distinguished history of the Royal Irish Regiment and its antecedent regiments.
“The Royal Irish Regiment has and will continue to perform its duty to the highest standard whenever and wherever.”
Belfast-born Colonel Tim Collins achieved worldwide fame for his inspirational eve-of-invasion address to the men of the RIR in 2003.
He was widely praised for his words – his address hung on the wall of the Oval Office by President George Bush .
Col Collins told his men: “If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory.
He has since left the army and has become a critic of British government cut backs within the military.
